9-Cis-retinoic acid reduces ischemic brain injury in rodents via bone morphogenetic protein.

Retinoic acid (RA), a biologically active derivative of vitamin A, has protective effects against damage caused by H(2)O(2) or oxygen-glucose deprivation in mesangial and PC12 cells. In cultured human osteosarcoma cells, RA enhances the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7), a trophic factor that reduces ischemia- or neurotoxin-mediated neurodegeneration in vivo. The purpose of this study is to examine whether RA reduces ischemic brain injury through a BMP7 mechanism.

Neuroregenerative effects of BMP7 after stroke in rats.

Previous reports have indicated that the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) is enhanced after ischemic injury in brain. This upregulation may induce endogenous neurorepair in the ischemic brain. The purpose of this study was to examine neuroregenerative effects of BMP7 after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Dietary supplementation with blueberries, spinach, or spirulina reduces ischemic brain damage.

Free radicals are involved in neurodegenerative disorders, such as ischemia and aging. We have previously demonstrated that treatment with diets enriched with blueberry, spinach, or spirulina have been shown to reduce neurodegenerative changes in aged animals. The purpose of this study was to determine if these diets have neuroprotective effects in focal ischemic brain.

Diadenosine tetraphosphate protects against injuries induced by ischemia and 6-hydroxydopamine in rat brain.

Diadenosine tetraphosphate (AP4A), an endogenous diadenosine polyphosphate, reduces ischemic injury in the heart. In this study, we report the potent and protective effects of AP4A in rodent models of stroke and Parkinson's disease. AP4A, given intracerebroventricularly before middle cerebral artery (MCA) ligation, reduced cerebral infarction size and enhanced locomotor activity in adult rats.

Intravenous administration of bone morphogenetic protein-7 after ischemia improves motor function in stroke rats.

Background And Purpose: We and others have previously reported that bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), given before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), reduces ischemic injury in brain. Recent studies have indicated that receptors for BMP are upregulated after brain ischemia. It is possible that this upregulation may facilitate endogenous neurorepair in the ischemic brain.

Effects of cerebral ischemia in mice deficient in Persephin.

Persephin (Pspn), a recently cloned member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily (TGF-beta) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) subfamily, is distributed throughout the nervous system at extremely low levels and is thought to function as a survival factor for midbrain dopaminergic and spinal motor neurons in vivo. Here, we report that mice lacking Pspn by homologous recombination show normal development and behavior, but are hypersensitive to cerebral ischemia. A 300% increase in infarction volume was observed after middle cerebral artery occlusion.